Page 67 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

In contrast to his wife, Azulin’s father appeared like a frail shadow of a fae. The unnatural uniformity of his features lent his haggard face a measure of lingering beauty, but the moments of vacant wandering eyes and the slackness of his expression hinted at a frightening madness beneath the façade.

He gripped his armed chair as though it were a throne someone wished to take from him. Where his wife’s hair remained full, lush, and dark, his was thinning and white as snow. Still, I could see the remnants of the fae he had been in his prime. If he stood, I suspected he would rival his sons in height and breadth of shoulder despite his stooped appearance.

As though bracing himself, Azulin adjusted his shoulders and settled his clothing. Then he stepped around his mother and approached the former king. “Father?”

The older fae lifted his head and peered up at his elder son. A moment of clarity crossed his features and his eyes focused on Azulin. “Greetings, disappointment.”

Azulin barely flinched, but an acute ache formed in my gut as the vine on my arm tightened uncomfortably.

Oran and his mother exchanged a loaded glance.

The former queen sighed. “You two clearly need to catch up on current events.” She approached me. “Come, my dear, let us leave the men to argue.”

I glanced toward Azulin. He had instructed me to stay close, but how could I deny a direct request of his mother? She might not be acting-queen but—

“I will go with you,” Oran announced loudly enough to catch Azulin’s attention. “We all know how politics bore me.” Thebrothers exchanged a look. Crossing the room, Oran caught my elbow and steered me toward the door in his mother’s wake. My last glimpse of Azulin was over my shoulder.

He was standing with his back to me, saying something to his father.

“He told me to stay close,” I whispered at Oran as we paraded down the wide corridor again. Servants appeared around each corner as we walked. They consulted with the former queen in front of us and then left as quietly as they had appeared.

Oran focused intently on his mother. “You are safe with me. I won’t let the old dame hurt you.”

“But—”

“Summer salon or the garden?” his mother asked.

“Your choice, Mother. Either will work.”

I glared up at him. “Is this to give Azulin time with your father or to kidnap me?”

Oran laughed, a deep chuckle that sounded a bit like Azulin’s. “My, you are a suspicious creature.”

“With good reason, apparently.” I tried to yank my elbow from his grasp, but superior fae strength won.

“Don’t get so worked up,” Oran advised. “We mean you no harm. Az needs to face the reality of our father’s decay properly. Meanwhile, Mother and I need to speak to you. We require honest answers about how you came to be married to my brother and how that relates to the curse’s breaking.”

The former queen turned in the next doorway and we followed. The moment we crossed the threshold, though, Oran kicked the door shut in our entourage’s faces. There was a disturbing lack of Ghost’s presence among those we left behind.

“Inside or outside, Mother?” Oran asked.

His mother paused in the center of the room. “Which location will offer less opportunity for eavesdropping? We don’t want to risk a new curse. Or worse.” She nodded at me.

“Then the water gardens are best. I can set a misdirection spell, as well as one against listening there.”

“But we must avoid the sun,” she replied, elegantly gesturing toward her face.

“Pick a big shade tree.” Oran rolled his eyes at me companionably, as though we were co-conspirators in something.

“Do you not trust your servants?” I asked.

Oran blinked at me in surprise. “I trust no one.”

“Not even Azulin?”

Oran laughed without humor. “Now that is complicated. Would I trust him with my life? Yes. My feelings about a matter? Probably not. Az is too cold by half and too much like our father.”

I mulled over that while Oran continued to escort me firmly by my elbow along winding garden paths.

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